Air-compressor



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` J. H. QUINN.

Air Compressor.

N0. 236,455. Patented 1an. 11,1881.

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J. H. QU.IN.N.

Air Compressor. N0. 236,455. i Patented 1311.",1881.

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\X/1TNEE.5E5 V INVENTEIR- NPETERS, PHOYWUTMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

JOHN H. QUINN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR-COMPRESSO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,455, dated January 11, 1881.

Application filed November 8, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. QUINN, of Boston, county ofSuffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Compressors, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention in air-compressors has for its object the production of a compressor suitable for maintaining` a proper degree of air-pressure in kegs or barrels from which a iiuid is being drawn and for blowing organs and such other work where a pressure ot' airis required.

My compressor derives its movement from water or other tluid which is permitted toiiow through it; and my invention is herein shown embodied in an apparatushaving a lever provided at each side of its fulcrum with a uidchamber, one of which chambers receives while the other discharges tluid, the inlet and outlet topermit. the fluid to pass into and from the said chambers alternately being' preferably formed in one cock, it having six ports or water-ways, and being turned to open and close the said ports by an arm projected from the lever upon which the said chambers are mounted. These huid-chambers, at their upper ends, are connected with different branches of an air-pipe, which is led to the place where the air-pressure is to be exerted, and the air forced from these chambers alternately by the rising fluid (preferably water) is forced into one or the other of these branches, thus keeping up a steady fiow ot' air.

The particular features and construction of parts constituting my invention will be hereinafter fully set forth at the end ot' this speciflcation.

Figure l represents, in front elevation, an

the water in the chambers to be readily seen,

which is desirable to facilitate adjustment of parts and insure a prompt change in the position of the chambers when one is fully filled. These cylinders are closed at bottom and top by reason of metallic plates or heads D E F G, held in place at the ends ot' the cylinders by bolts H I, a suitable packing being employed between the ends of the cylinders and heads. The chambers constituted by these cylinders and heads are mounted upon the ends of a lever, K K, pivoted to the frame-work at lc, the said lever being made as a hollow pipe. The open ends of the lever or pivoted pipe enter the heads E G, and each end alternately discharges water into and takes water from one of the said chambers.

The water to operate the compressoris supposed to be received from a proper watersu pply into the inlet a. of the valve-casing a2, when it lifts the plunger a3, permitting the water to pass through the pipe c4 into the case b ofthe six-way cock, it having a plug, b', provided with a three-way inlet-port, 112,(see Fig. 5,) for the passage of water from the pipe a* into that one of the chambers B or C which is uppermost and is then to be filled, and with a three-way outlet-port, b3, (see Fig. 4,) to permit the escape ot' water from that one of the chambers B or O which may be lowest and the discharge of the said water out through the main outlet L, connected with the sewer or a well.

The lever cof the plug of the cock has upon it a stud or pin, c2, which is made to enter a slot in the arm k2 ofthe water-conductingand chamber-carrying lever K K', so that as the lever is turned by reason of the weight of water in one cylinder overcoming the force of the lever-holder (herein shown as a sliding counter-balance, las, carried by the rod or race 7a4, suspended from the said lever K K') the said arm k2 will turn the plug of the cock and cause it to occupy one or the other of the two positions shown in Figs. 5 or 4, to permit iirstone and then the other chamber to be tilled and then discharged. The rod or race k* has placed IOO upon it stops 2 and 3, made adjustable to stop the counter-balance or weight at such a distance from the ends of the race as will permit the lever K K to be turned when one ot' its chambers isjust filled with water.

Instead ot the sliding counterweight or variable holder for the lever, as it may be termed, I may employ other devices which shall be controlled by springs and permit the chamber to descend or fall when they have received a certain weight of water.

At the upper end of each chamber the heads D E F (see Fig. 6) are each provided with a hub having a passage, f, in communication with the air-pipe N, there being near each head D F a check-valve, fn, to prevent the passage of air from the said pipe N into either cylinder, the said check-valve, however, rising freely and readily to permit air in that chamber being lled with water to be forced out ot' the said chamber into the said air-pipe, a central branch, a2, thereof conducting the compressed air into the space or chamber where the airpressure is to be utilized, whether it bein a cask or other thing. Each chamber has at its upper end a fio-at, d2, preferably of cork, which is lifted by the water and forced upward into a proper seat to prevent the flow of waterinto the air-pipe, the said float being prevented from falling out of guided position when the water falls by reason ot' a wing or stop, cl3. As the water is being discharged from a chamber it is necessary to permit the air to enter the chamber above the water. This is provided for by the loose valve d4 in the case d5 at the lower end of the pipe d6, there being one such valve and pipe connected with each head D F. When the air-pressure arrives at the desired maximum the flow ot' water into the apparatus must be automatically stopped, which is provided for in the following` manner:

The upper end of the valve-case a2 has an extension, e, upon which is placed and held a ring, e', made adjustable on the said extension, preferably by a screw-thread. This ring serves as a seat for a spiral spring, c2, the force ot' which is regulated by the said ring to exert more or less force, which must be overcome by the air-pressure, and consequently the efective strength ot' this spring determines the maximum pressure of the air and the time when the Water will be cut oft' or permitted to enter the case a2.

The extension e receives within it aplug, c3, having its lower end tapered to iit a seat in the extension, as shown in Fig. 2, and at its upper end this plug has a head, c4, which receives upon it a piece of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material, to serve as a diaphragm against the upper side ot' which the compressed air in the pipe N n2 may bear. This diaphragm is held at its edges between the hanged head g, with which the air-pipe n2 is joined, anda ring, g2, screwed therein. 'The head g2 is bolted by bolts g3 with the head of the casin g co2.

When the air-pressure is sufficient to overlift the plunger and opening the way to the f pipe a4. The area of water-pressure above the plunger t3 when the plug c3 is held down by the air-pressure keeps the plunger a3 to its seat and cuts oft' the flow of water into the apparatus. When the plug e3 is again permitted to rise thesmall amount ot' water above the plunger, or which gets above the plunger in its operation,it being iitted loosely in the case a2, is permitted to escape through the pipe m2 into a sewer or other place.

The rod or race 7a4 is sustained by arms p, connected with the lever K K.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be supposed that chamber C is empty and is to be filled with water. In such position of the parts the inletports of the six-way cock will be as in Fig. 5 and the outlet-ports as in Fig. 4. The water will then pass along pipe a4 through the cock, as shown in Fig. 5, and thence along pipe 0 into that branch K of the lever-pipe and into the chamber C, forcing the air therein out through the pipe Naz. At this same time the water in thecham berB will flow from it through the part K ot' the lever-pipe along thepipe d2 into the three-way outlet, as in Fig. 4, and thence out into the sewer. The pipe K K is plugged at its pivoted center.

It is obvious,instead of making the lever K K hollow to serve as a Water-conductor, that it might be solid aud carry suitable pipes of rubber or otherwise connected with and so as to supply the chambers with water and receive water from them, as set forth; but the plan herein shown is preferred for durability and cheapness.

I claiml. 1n an air-compressor, two water-receiving chambers connected at their Lipper ends with air-pipes, and having valves to permit air to enter therein as the water descends in the said chambers, a lever upon which the said chambers are mounted, and an arm, k2, carried by the said lever, combined with a cock operated by the said lever, and having suitable water ways or ports, as described, to permit the passage of water into one chamber and its discharge from the other chamber at the same time, and suitable water ways or channels for the passage of water into and from the said chambers, to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an air-compressor, a hollow water-conducting lever and water-chambers provided with valves Z4 and air-pipe N, and carried by the said lever, combined with pipes o o2, the cock connected with the said pipes and having water-ways, as described, and means to move the said cock, the said chamber alternately receiving water from and discharging water into the said hollow lever, according to the position of the said cock, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

3. In an air-compressor, the chambers B C, carried by a pivoted lever and adapted to alternately receive water to compress and discharge air and to discharge Water, combined with a lever-holder, substantially such as described, to hold the lever and chambers in position until the chamber then receiving water is filled to the desired point-,when the force of the lever-holder is overcome and the lever is permitted to change its position, the chamber then being filled descending, substantially as described.

4. In an air-compressor, the following instrumentalities, viz: two water-chambers, each provided with an air-inlet and valre to control it, an air-receiving pipe leading from each chamber and connected into one pipe, a lever to carry the two cylinders, a single cock having inlet and outlet passages for the simultaneous admission of water into one chamber and its discharge from the other chamber, pipes to connect the said cock with each of the said chambers, means to automatically operate the said cock, a plunger to control the admission of Water to the said cock, and means to control the operation ofthe said plunger and permit the ow of water into the compressor beyoud the plunger when the air-pressure has arrived at its maximum, substantially as de# scribed.

5. In an air-compressor, a spring-supported plug operated by the pressure of air, combined with a plunger and casing in which it moves, the pressure of the air actuating the plug to control the times of rest and oi' movement of the plunger to permit or stop the llow of water into the compressing apparatus, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. QUINN.

lVitnesses:

Jos. P. LIVERMORE, G. W. GREGORY. 

